This Other Jesus: A Christmas Thought
He was born into a palatial villa surrounded by high walls and tight security.
The first-born son of powerful parents, it was his destiny to rule the known world. His birth had been foretold by the seers and was eagerly awaited by the rich and the great.
Even before his birth, the world's most inventive minds had mapped out the likely course of his achievements. When he finally did arrive, no expense was spared.
 Presidents and kings came to lay priceless gifts at his feet and the world's finest orchestras serenaded him night and day.
As a boy, he was sheltered from threats to his safety. His childhood and youth were spent in comfort and blissful ignorance of the 'real' world beyond the palace gates.
Yet, despite his cocooned existence, his fame was constantly growing. Though he'd done nothing of note, he could always be assured of friendly press in a world that his parents controlled.
The heir to vast power, prestige and wealth, he was set for a life of privilege and ease. His adult days were spent travelling the globe, patronising the arts, building great cities and basically ensuring the longevity of his reign and his fame.
His name was Jesus, and he was truly a king of kings.
An alternative Jesus? Think about it for a moment. If you or I were God, the Jesus we would send to change the world would be very different from the Jesus of history.
How would history have turned out, where would the world be now, if the only Jesus history knew was this 'other Jesus'?
If this 'other Jesus' had lived:
- He could not have wept with the sick and dying, because his position would prevent a show of vulnerability.
- He could not have identified with the downtrodden and oppressed, because he would be the one doing the treading.
- He could never have brought good news to the poor, because he would be one of those who kept them poor.
- He could not preach liberty to captives, because he would be the one in whose name they were locked away.
- He could not be the humble 'Son of Man', because he would be the lofty 'Son of Kings'.
- He could not bear a crown of thorns, because his would be a crown of gems.
- He could not be rejected on our behalf, because he would be surrounded by 'hangers on'.
- He could not identify with humanity in death, because he could not identify with humanity in life.
One more thing is certain: he could never have paid the price for human sin.
Our despair could never have been swallowed by God's hope. Our poverty could not have been overcome by God's riches. And our failure could never be covered by God's grace.
Thank God he didn't send this 'other Jesus', for if he had the world would be an immeasurably poorer place...
© Mal Fletcher 2002-04
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